A Path Less Traveled by Cathy Bryant

hasn’t been back to school. I just
don’t have the heart to make him go.”
    Anger swept over
him at the callousness of Bo’s teacher. “He has to, Trish.”
    “I know. It’s
just so hard to see my son . . . check out.” A muffled groan escaped her, and
immediate tears spilled down her cheeks and dripped from her chin.
    Her knees started
to give way, but before she crumpled to the ground, he pulled her into his arms
while sobs shook her body. The scent of her shampoo drifted past his nose, her
hair soft and silky against his cheek.
    God, please
take away her hurt and pain. Show me how I can help her and Bo without making
her feel inadequate. He stroked her back to offer comfort, overwhelmed by
the tender feelings surging through him.
    Eventually she
pulled away and swiped her wet cheeks, her lashes spiked with tears. “I’m so
sorry.”
    “Don’t apologize
for your feelings.” He clutched both her hands and forced her to look at him.
“Allow yourself time to grieve. Not just your husband’s death, but its impact
on Bo. Holding it in will only create more problems down the road.”
    Trish nodded.
“You’re right, bu—” Her cell phone jangled, and she retrieved it from her
pocket. “Sorry, Andy, but I need to take this call.”
    She traipsed a
few feet away and rested against the rough bark of an oak, her shoulders
stooped and one arm curled around her waist. An overpowering urge to step in,
fix her problems, and shelter her from life’s storms ballooned inside him. But
how could he help when she wanted nothing more than to help herself?
    Her words wafted
toward him on the breeze and sent a chill down his spine. “Thanks, Delaine.
I’ll compile a resume and send it to her right away.”
     
    Chapter 9
     

A ndy parked his car in
the popular West End district of Dallas and hurried to an upscale bistro to
catch an early lunch. The past weekend had given him more questions than
answers, and he was still no closer to a decision on moving to Miller’s Creek.
On top of everything, he hadn’t been able to get Trish and Bo out of his mind.
Like a Texas-sized mosquito, it constantly buzzed in his thoughts.
    He entered the
restaurant and allowed his eyes to adjust to the dark interior, while enjoying
the delectable aroma. Then a familiar voice caught his attention—one he hadn’t
heard since the night before he was supposed to get married.
    Sheila.
    He turned his
back and prayed she wouldn’t see him. Hoped she’d think he was just another
person waiting for a table at the packed-to-capacity restaurant.
    “Andy?” The
syrupy voice he’d once found adorable now curdled his stomach.
    He attached a
smile to his face and pivoted to deal with her head-on. “Sheila. Sure didn’t
expect to see you here.”
    The perceptive
look that crossed her face let him know that his clumsy attempt to act
surprised hadn’t worked. Sheila smirked. “Come on, Andy, we can be big people.
There’s no way we’re going to avoid running into each other from time to time.”
A predatory glint appeared in her eyes, and she stretched her red claws toward
him.
    Andy shook her
hand in a gesture of friendship then wiped his hand on his pants. Her grasp
always had a clammy feel that freaked him out.
    “Andy, I’d like
you to meet my friend, Chase.” She offered no further explanation.
    Not that he
needed one. The way she had her arm possessively linked in his pretty much said
it all. “Nice to meet you, Chase. Let me guess, you in banking?”
    “Close. Personal
finance. How’d you know?”
    “Lucky guess.”
Educated guess based on Sheila’s expensive tastes.
    Chase, the
all-American-guy type, grinned to reveal a toothpaste-commercial smile. “How do
you two know each other?”
    Sheila leaned
back and shook her head, eyes wide.
    Andy chuckled.
“Let me tell him, Sheila. It’s such an interesting story, don’t you think?” A
look of horror washed over her face, but he continued. “Sheila and I were
engaged. In fact, the